Security
Suspicious Site Reporter extension for Chrome
Google releases Suspicious Site Reporter extension for Chrome – By Martin Brinkmannghacks.net
Suspicious Site Reporter is a new browser extension by Google for the company's Chrome web browser that provides users with options to report sites to the company.
The extension has two main functions: to report sites to Google and to highlight if Google found anything suspicious about the site.
Got a Chromebook? Here’s how and why you need to protect your Google account
Got a Chromebook? Here’s how and why you need to protect your Google account – By Kevin C. Tofelaboutchromebooks.com4 min
With a simple Google account sign on, a Chromebook is quick to get you working, playing or whatever you want to do. But that Google account is the key to your Chromebook castle, and probably many other services as well, so you want to make sure it’s protected at all costs.
Use Token to protect yourself against credit card fraud
Use Token to protect yourself against credit card fraud – By Rick Broidacnet.com4 min
My son had his first debit card for all of three months before the number got stolen and used for unauthorized purchases — to the tune of about $1,600. It's happened to me at least three or four times. And based on a couple informal polls I ran, at least 75 percent of Cheapskate readers have experienced it at least once.
LastPass Password Manager Review
LastPass Password Manager Review— Worth Downloading? – By Gwynn Ballard securitybaron.com
We all heavily depend on password-protected sites and apps. Between social networking, work emails, personal emails, and online banking, using the same password for everything may seem convenient. But using one password across multiple accounts makes you much more vulnerable to hackers and security breaches. Luckily, there are password managers that allow you to store all of your unique passwords in one place.
The Five Best Password Managers – By Alan Henrylifehacker.com12 min
A while ago, all it took to be a great password manager was to keep your passwords in an encrypted vault. Now the best password managers give you the option to sync or keep them local only, change web passwords with a click, log in to sites for you, and more.
– Does Two-Factor Authentication Really Make You Safer?
Does Two-Factor Authentication Really Make You Safer? – By Max Eddy pcmag.com
This week, I'm digging back into my bottomless mailbag to tackle another question about two-factor authentication (2FA). It's a subject I've touched on before, but judging from the volume and specificity of the questions I've received about it, it's clearly an issue a lot of people are thinking about. Since I view 2FA as, perhaps, the single best thing regular people can do to stay safe online, I'm more than happy to talk endlessly about it.
Organize Your Password Manager in 7 Steps
How to Organize Your Password Manager in 7 Steps – By Dave Parrack, www.makeuseof.com
After using LastPass for over six years, I recently decided to move to 1Password. Once I’d moved my information over to the new service, I realized how much junk had built up in my password manager over the years.
Smart Lock is Android’s best-kept secret
Smart Lock is Android's best-kept secret – By Ara Wagoner, www.androidcentral.com
The original Moto X was a glorious phone for a lot of reasons, and I loved mine to (literal) death for its clean software, Moto Voice, and also for this awesome little feature called Trusted Bluetooth. Trusted Bluetooth kept your phone unlocked so long as it stayed in connected to a trusted device, and since my headphones lived around my neck, I hardly ever unlocked my phone.
What Is Gmail Confidential Mode?
What Is Gmail Confidential Mode? (And How to Use It) by Richard Priday tomsguide.com
Since 2018, the time of Gmail’s last redesign, personal account users have been able to activate ‘Confidential Mode’, a series of options intended to make your emails more secure.
Credit: ShutterstockAmong these options are making the email delete itself after a set period of time, limiting the recipient’s ability to copy, forward, print or download the contents, instantly revoking access or setting up an SMS verification lock, which sends the recipient a code they have to enter before reading what you’ve sent to them.
– Windows Security Tips
5 Simple Windows Security Tips You've Got No Excuse to Ignore – By David Nield, gizmodo.com
Computer security doesn’t really have to be hard. Some of the smallest, simplest measures can be the most effective in keeping your devices secure—they won’t take long, they’re easy to do, and you don’t really have any excuse for not doing them.
Best Account Security Methods
Here Are the Best Account Security Methods, According to Google – By David Murphy, Email, Twitter, Posts, lifehacker.com
Everywhere you turn, someone is handing out advice about account security and privacy. And while it never hurts to be reminded about all the ways you can protect your critical data, have you topped to wonder whether any of the various security measures you’re taking are actually effective?
WebAuthn Web Authentication with YubiKey 5 – By Todd A. Jacobs, www.linuxjournal.com
A look at the recently released YubiKey 5 hardware authenticator series and how web authentication with the new WebAuthn API leverages devices like the YubiKey for painless website registration and strong user authentication.
Google data shows 2-factor authentication blocks 100% of automated bot hacks – By Napier Lopez, thenextweb.com
Two-factor authentication is annoying. Getting flustered because you have to find your phone and tap on a prompt every time you log into your accounts from a new device is peak first-world problems. But if you ever had any doubt whether it really made you that much safer, Google has the data to dispel that uncertainty.
Wyze Sense review
Wyze Sense review: This $20 sensor system is a steal for security DIYers – By Michael Ansaldo, www.techhive.com
Wyze Labs turned our conception of home security cameras on its ear with the Wyze Cam and Wyze Cam Pan. These two convention-defying cameras pack premium features like Full HD video, motion detection and tracking, and smart home integration into easy-to-install devices for just $20 and $30, respectively. Now they’ve done much the same by introducing a $20 home sensor system.
Watch out for this Microsoft Windows tech support scam
Watch out for this Microsoft Windows tech support scam by clark.com
A particular type of scam phone call is making the rounds again and victimizing unsuspecting people. This time, it’s the old Microsoft tech support scam call.
Scammers are using technology to pose as employees of Microsoft and other companies. Here’s how to avoid being scammed.
The Best DIY Security System Might Also Be the Cheapest
The Best DIY Security System Might Also Be the Cheapest – By Tucker Bowe, gearpatrol.com
Wyze, the company behind one of our favorite smart security cameras (the $20 WyzeCam has essentially the same abilities as its way-more-expensive competitors by Amazon and Nest), just announced a new DIY smart alarms system that’s equally as inexpensive.
– Never Lose Access to LastPass with Account Recovery on Mobile
Never Lose Access to LastPass with Account Recovery on Mobile – By Amber Steel, blog.lastpass.com
LastPass takes away the burden of remembering passwords – and getting locked out of your accounts. But what if you forget your LastPass master password? It’s the one password you still need to remember. Because of our zero-knowledge security model, LastPass never knows your master password and therefore can’t reset it for you. So, what do you do if you’ve forgotten it?
How Password Managers Work
How Password Managers Work – Computerphile – By Computerphile, www.youtube.com VIDEO
Password1 is a terrible password, but how can I remember different secure passwords for each login? Use a password manager. Dr Mike Pound explains how they work. Computer Science at the University of Nottingham:
The Best Way to Use Two-Factor Authentication
The Best Way to Use Two-Factor Authentication – By Bree Fowler, www.consumerreports.org
In a world plagued by cyber threats, it takes more than a strong password to protect your personal information. According to security experts, you need a second layer of defense for your online accounts, complements of two-factor authentication (2FA).
Android phones transformed into anti-phishing security tokens
Android phones transformed into anti-phishing security tokens – By John E Dunn, nakedsecurity.sophos.com
Google just announced a new security feature that allows users of Android 7 and later to use their smartphones to authenticate themselves to their Google accounts.
Two-Factor Authentication: Who Has It and How to Set It Up
Two-Factor Authentication: Who Has It and How to Set It Up – By Eric Griffith, www.pcmag.com
In 2014, the Heartbleed exploit left everyone's login information potentially up for grabs thanks to one itty-bitty piece of code, and in the past few years our security nightmares have only gotten worse. In fact, more data was leaked in the first half of 2017 than in all of 2016 combined.
5 best two-factor authenticator apps for Android – By Contact, www.androidauthority.com
Two-factor authentication is a popular and powerful security tool. It requires you to verify that you actually logged into whatever account you logged into. This adds a personal touch. In order to hack your account, someone would need more than just your password and username. Of course, it’s not an end all, be all solution. However, it is nice having an extra layer of security. There are a few decent apps for this, although most sites use your phone number for text messaging. Those who want to use authenticator apps have only a few good choices. Here are the best ones for Android!
How to use your Android phone as a two-factor authentication security key – By Shannon Liao, www.theverge.com
Google added a new way to verify your logins this week: using your Android phone as a physical security key for two-factor authentication. You should be using two-factor authentication to log onto websites, so that even if someone has your password from a data breach, they won’t be able to get in. And now with the new feature, if you have an Android phone running 7 or higher, you also have a convenient security key.
How to Not Get Locked Out With Two-Factor Authentication
SecurityWatch: How to Not Get Locked Out With Two-Factor Authentication – By Max Eddy, www.pcmag.com
Security tools often create a certain amount of anxiety. What happens if I lose my password? Or if my antivirus deletes my stuff? The advent of two-factor authentication has created a new twist on a familiar anxiety: what happens if I can't use my second factor and get locked out of my account?
Two-factor authentication explained: How to choose the right level of security for every account – By Michael Simon, www.pcworld.com
If you aren’t already protecting your most personal accounts with two-factor or two-step authentication, you should be. An extra line of defense that’s tougher than the strongest password, 2FA is extremely important to blocking hacks and attacks on your personal data. If you don’t quite understand what it is, we’ve broken it all down for you.
Your Android phone can now be a security key for your Google account
Your Android phone can now be a security key for your Google account – By Alex Wagner, www.phonedog.com
Two-factor authentication helps to secure your online accounts by adding a second step to the login process. Today Google is making it easier for Android users to add 2FA to their account.
Android 7.0+ Phones Can Now Double as Google Security Keys – by krebsonsecurity.com
Google this week made it easier for Android users to enable strong 2-factor authentication (2FA) when logging into Google’s various services. The company announced that all phones running Android 7.0 and higher can now be used as Security Keys, an additional authentication layer that helps thwart phishing sites and password theft.
Google’s most secure login system now works on Firefox and Edge, too
Google's most secure login system now works on Firefox and Edge, too By Stephen Shankland, www.cnet.com
Google has updated its support for hardware security keys so you no longer need to rely on its Chrome browser to log into websites like Gmail, YouTube and G Suite.
Why you should never allow your web browser to save your passwords
Why you should never allow your web browser to save your passwords By Jack Wallen, www.techrepublic.com
When a web browser like Chrome, Firefox or Safari is allowed to store passwords, you're putting your network security at risk.
– What Is Encryption, and How Does It Work?
What Is Encryption, and How Does It Work? By Email, www.howtogeek.com
Encryption has a long history dating back to when the ancient Greeks and Romans sent secret messages by substituting letters only decipherable with a secret key. Join us for a quick history lesson and learn more about how encryption works.
The Best Password Managers
The Best Password Managers by thewirecutter.com
If you’re not using a password manager, start now. A password manager makes you less vulnerable online by generating strong random passwords, syncing them securely across your browsers and devices, and filling them in automatically. After 18 hours of research and testing, we believe that LastPass is the best password manager for most people. It has all the essential features, it works with virtually any browser on any device, and most of its features are free. (A Premium version, which costs $24 per year, adds advanced security features, better sharing, and other useful tools.
I Finally Set Up a Password Manager—and You Really Should, Too By Lauren Phillips, www.realsimple.com
Anyone who doesn’t already have a password manager needs one—stat. Talking about online security might not be the most glamorous topic, but with the huge number of password-requiring accounts and sites online, it’s quickly becoming one of the most important ones, especially because an ill-intentioned person with the right password can wreak havoc across one’s finances, social media accounts, and more.
Protecting Your Internet Accounts Keeps Getting Easier. Here’s How to Do It. By Brian X. Chen, www.nytimes.com
There are many tools for setting up two-factor authentication, a security mechanism that prevents improper access. These four methods are the most compelling.
Why you should never allow your web browser to save your passwords By Jack Wallen, www.techrepublic.com
When a web browser like Chrome, Firefox or Safari is allowed to store passwords, you're putting your network security at risk.
Logging In With A USB Key (U2F Explained)
Logging In With A USB Key (U2F Explained) by Techquickie www.youtube.com VIDEO
Change your Facebook password now!
Change your Facebook password now! By Paul Ducklin, nakedsecurity.sophos.com
Facebook has just admitted that it has found many places – hundreds of millions of places, maybe – where it saved users’ passwords to disk in raw, unencrypted form.
– Google Password Manager
Google Password Manager: 7 Things You Must Know By Dan Price, www.makeuseof.com
A password manager is the perfect way to create secure, unique passwords that can be controlled centrally. Google Chrome has one built-in, potentially saving you the need for third-party software.
Privacy.com Review
Privacy.com Review By Ash The Great, echeck.org
When you pay for something online, you are putting your financial and personal details at risk. No matter which form of payment you use, there is always a risk, and there is no way for you (the consumer) to know just how big or small the risk is. The sheer number of massive hacks and leaks over the last ten years is proof enough that we have no idea how safe our payment information really is. Privacy.com adds another layer of privacy. Every time you use your credit card, it generates a brand new set of details, and you use the new details to pay instead of your real payment details. It is like paying with a disposable credit card. Privacy.com allows you to generate new payment details that you can use to buy things online, and they call it, “Creating a virtual credit card.”
Google Smart Lock: Guide
Google Smart Lock: The complete guide By Jr Raphael, www.computerworld.com
Think fast: How many times a day do you pick up your phone to look at something? Unless you live in the tundra or have far more self-control than most, the answer probably falls somewhere between "quite a few" and "more than any sane person could count." Assuming you keep your device properly secured, that means you're doing an awful lot of unlocking — be it with your face, your fingerprint, or the code you tap or swipe onto your screen.
10 Important Android Settings You Should Know
10 Important Android Settings You Should Know! By Thiojoe, youtube.com VIDEO
Android is an extremely popular mobile OS, and I actually think most of you use it. So here are some important settings that you should know about if you don't already. They aren't hidden settings, so don't be surprised if you do know some. They aren't settings you should necessarily change, because most of these come down to preference.
– Android Settings You Should Change Now!
13 Android Settings You Should Change Now! by ThioJoe youtube.com VIDEO
Those default settings are no good! Here's what to change… — Android has a lot of default settings that might be OK for most people, but there are some that really everyone should change. These might be settings related to privacy, security, or just plain convenience.
Firefox Send, Free File Transfers
Firefox Send, Free File Transfers and Sharing with End to End Encryption.
Firefox Send uses end-to-end encryption to keep your files secure from the moment you share to the moment it's opened. You choose when your file link expires, the number of downloads and the option to add a password to protect the contents further.
Firefox Send also makes it easy to share large file sizes. You can share file sizes up to 1GB without a login. To send files up to 2.5GB, login to your Firefox account, if you don't have a Firefox account signup is free.
Firefox Send makes it easy for your recipient. They click the link you sent to download the file. They don’t need to have a Firefox account to download your file. Making the file sharing experience seamless for both parties, as quick as sending an email.
Here's the link to Firefox Send, save as a bookmark.
Note: This is a great tool for sharing event pictures and videos with other attendees. Simply upload your images, send everyone the link, as many as 100 people will have 7 days to download them.
How to Manage Saved Passwords in Chrome
How to Manage Saved Passwords in Chrome By Brady Gavin, www.howtogeek.com
Google Chrome comes with a handy password manager already built in. You can have your browser save and fill out passwords for different sites when you’re asked to sign in. Here’s how to manage all your saved passwords in Chrome.
MyEquifax.com Bypasses Credit Freeze PIN
MyEquifax.com Bypasses Credit Freeze PIN by krebsonsecurity.com
Most people who have frozen their credit files with Equifax have been issued a numeric Personal Identification Number (PIN) which is supposed to be required before a freeze can be lifted or thawed. Unfortunately, if you don’t already have an account at the credit bureau’s new myEquifax portal, it may be simple for identity thieves to lift an existing credit freeze at Equifax and bypass the PIN armed with little more than your, name, Social Security number and birthday.
How to make people sit up and use 2-factor auth:
How to make people sit up and use 2-factor auth: Show 'em a vid reusing a toothbrush to clean the toilet, then compare it to password reuse By Iain Thomson, www.theregister.co.uk
RSA Despite multi-factor authentication being on hand to protect online accounts and other logins from hijackings by miscreants for more than a decade now, people still aren't using it. Today, a pair of academics revealed potential reasons why there is limited uptake.
Get started with Google’s Backup and Sync
Get started with Google's Backup and Sync app By Matt Elliott, www.cnet.com
Google's new Backup and Sync app replaces both the company's Drive and Photos desktop apps for Windows PCs and Macs. You can use the app to back up the contents of your entire computer — or just selected folders.
Authentication Options Explained | 2FA, MFA, and more
Your Authentication Options Explained | 2FA, MFA, and more By Leah Bachmann, blog.lastpass.com
Cybercriminals are skilled lock pickers. They know the best opportunities to break through security barriers. Their motivation is simple: transform digital data into hard cash.
Password Manager Showdown: LastPass vs. 1Password By Zapier, zapier.com
Until a better security standard is accepted by everyone, we're stuck using usernames and passwords.
Keep your money safe.
Keep your money safe. https://privacy.com/
Privacy creates secure virtual cards and completes checkout forms for you, saving you time and money while masking your real card details.
Try Privacy, It's FREE *
How to use password manager apps and browser add-ons in 2019
How to use password manager apps and browser add-ons in 2019 By Tom Mcnamara, download.cnet.com
We've been telling folks for years that you need to use a password manager to really protect your bank accounts, credit cards, and other important data, in combination with app-based two-factor authentication. But while we've talked about the general importance of these critical personal data security tools and others, it's been a while since we explained how a password manager works.
You Probably Need a Reality Check on Cybersecurity
You Probably Need a Reality Check on Cybersecurity By Angela Moscaritolo, www.pcmag.com
According to a new Google survey, most people are confident about their ability to protect their online accounts, yet many fail to take basic online security precautions such as regularly installing updates and using unique passwords.
Tips to Change your Password – LastPass
5 Tips to Change your Password By Leah Bachmann, blog.lastpass.com
Even though weak, reused and compromised passwords are the cause behind many breaches, people continue to display pretty risky password behavior. In fact, we’ve found that 91% of people know that using the same password for multiple accounts is a security risk, but 59% admitted that they do it anyway.
Using LastPass on iOS: Tricks you Might have Missed By Leah Bachmann, blog.lastpass.com
You want your phone with you everywhere. Don’t you feel the same way about your passwords? With the LastPass iOS and Android apps you have access to all your passwords wherever you go.
Using LastPass on Android: Tricks you Might have Missed By Leah Bachmann, blog.lastpass.com
We carry our phones with us everywhere, so it’s important our favorite apps are available on-the-go. LastPass offers a great app for both Android and iOS users that lets you access all your passwords and other essential information wherever you need it.
Password Fatigue and LastPass By Joe Siegrist, blog.lastpass.com
John Kelly of the Washington Post had an amusing article today about how much trouble it is to create a new password every 90 days: So Many Passwords, So Little Time By John Kelly
How can I protect myself from identity theft?
The Tech Guy airs every weekend in over 170 cities in the US and Canada and on America’s Talk XM Channel 244
How can I protect myself from identity theft?
Watch Mara from Los Angeles, CA
Mara was a victim of identity theft, and just narrowly avoided having her brokerage account drained. Leo says that Mara should change her password and turn on 2 factor authentication right away. Leo suspects the bad guys got her information from a database breach like the Collection #1 or the Marriott hack. Leo also suggests going to haveIbeenpwned.com/passwords and see if her passwords have been compromised and are known. Leo also recommends having a credit freeze put on Mara's account using Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. That will prevent any additional credit accounts being opened in her name.
Check out Clark Howard's article on how to put a freeze on your credit.
One Gmail Setting You Should Activate Now
Here's the One Gmail Setting You Should Activate Now By Marshall Honorof, www.tomsguide.com
Gmail has more than one billion users, and there's a very good chance that you're among them. With Google Photos, Google Drive, Google Docs and a myriad of other productivity services, Google's popularity and reach are nearly unparalleled, particularly if you also use the company's Android operating system on your mobile device.
Here’s the worst mistake people make that compromises their online security
Here’s the worst mistake people make that compromises their online security By Kari Paul, www.marketwatch.com
Amazon AMZN, +2.20% founder and Chief Executive Jeff Bezos accused the National Enquirer of politically motivated blackmail late Thursday, and published a threatening email from an executive at the supermarket tabloid’s parent company. One of the many lessons from that controversy is don’t take photos that might compromise your privacy and, if you do, don’t send them via text message or email to another party. Many people would refrain from doing so.
Five reasons why you need a password manager
Forgot password? Five reasons why you need a password manager By Ed Bott, www.zdnet.com
For years, I've been reading predictions about new technologies that will render passwords obsolete. Then I click through and inspect the details and I wind up shaking my head. There are plenty of clever identity technologies working their way into the mainstream, but passwords will remain a necessary evil for many years to come.
Google’s New Chrome Extension Alerts You If Your Passwords Have Been Leaked
Google’s New Chrome Extension Alerts You If Your Passwords Have Been Leaked By Cameron Summerson, www.howtogeek.com
We’ve reached a point where new data breaches are announced on what seems like a weekly basis. It’s almost impossible to keep up with all the breaches and your password situation, but a new Chrome extension from Google is here to help.
Chrome’s hidden lookalike detection feature battles URL imposters
Chrome’s hidden lookalike detection feature battles URL imposters By Danny Bradbury, nakedsecurity.sophos.com
Most of us have suffered from fat-fingered browsing before, mistyping website URLs and getting taken to the wrong place. Some of us have fallen victim to hyperlinks that look like legitimate websites at first glance but which are deliberately misspelled. Now, Chrome will try to save us from lookalike sites by detecting them and flagging up a warning.
– It’s Dangerous to Share Your Birthday Online
Why It’s Dangerous to Share Your Birthday Online By Anthony Heddings, www.howtogeek.com
A birthday isn’t something you might think of as being private information you should keep secret. Almost everyone celebrates them on social media, and quite a few people post them on their profile. That’s a horrible idea; here’s why.
Supercharge Your LastPass Security
8 Easy Ways to Supercharge Your LastPass Security By Dan Price, www.makeuseof.com
By now, you should know the basic principles of keeping your online accounts secure Have You Taken These 5 First Steps to Secure Your Accounts Online? Have You Taken These 5 First Steps to Secure Your Accounts Online?
Password Manager Features You Need to Know About
7 Password Manager Features You Need to Know About By Shubham Agarwal, www.makeuseof.com
Password managers are an essential tool in your digital arsenal. One of the reasons they’ve become so common is because of how straightforward they are to understand and operate. They manage your long passwords so that you don’t have to remember them.